The Jets head back to Oakland today, the seventh time this decade that Gang Green will visit the “Black Hole.” Here’s how Dave Hutchinson describes this bizarre place in The Star Ledger.
The infamous “Black Hole,” a section of Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum known for its crazies, has been a house of horrors, both literally and figuratively, for the Jets over the past four decades.
On Sunday, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez will get his first taste of Raider hospitality when the Jets (3-3) visit Oakland (2-4).
The rowdy Raiders’ fans, with their spiked hair and toy-spiked costumes, faces painted silver-and-black, mock skulls on poles, biker helmets, black leather outfits, and any number of out-of-this-universe getups, always seem to get the final word against the Jets.
Let’s just hope these people don’t have kids.
JaMarcus Russell
As for the game itself, this is a must-win for the Jets. They’ve dropped their last three, and last week they lost in embarrassing fashion to the Bills. Buffalo may actually be better than the Raiders, though Oakland surprised everyone last week with their win over the Eagles. But honestly, this is a game the Jets should win. And if New York is thinking playoffs, it’s a game they have to win.
The spotlight will once again be on quarterback Mark Sanchez, to see how the rookie responds to last week’s dismal, five-interception performance. Sanchez’s passer rating of 56.7 ranks 34th out of 36 quarterbacks.
And that brings us to the Raiders, where Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell is ranked 35th. Consequently, the Raiders don’t have a very good offense. They’ve scored only 62 points in six games. And their defense allows, on average, 365.5 yards per game, and has given up 139 points this season. Hard to beat your opponent when the other team scores more points.
Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, wide receiver Brad Smith, and cornerback Lito Sheppard are all out with injuries, and last week Rex Ryan suspended safety James Ihedigbo and linebacker Marques Murrell for throwing punches during overtime of last Sunday’s loss.
Prediction: So the Jets should win, but they also should have won last week. If they lose today, things will have begun to unravel. It’s conceivable that Sanchez could go into the “Black Hole” and struggle. Not because of the Raiders, or Raider fans, but because Sanchez has been abysmal in two of the last three games. It’s also possible that Sanchez could rebound today, showing the talent and maturity that were so evident the first three weeks of the season. Rex Ryan and the Jets better hope for the latter. Jets 16, Raiders 9.
